LogFAQs > #951201785

#12. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (& Knuckles) (Sega Genesis, 1992)
Let me set the record straight here. The Genesis Sonic games never have been games about going fast. Sure there are some segments where you do that, and if you get good at the levels ,you can do them even faster and more swiftly. But the point isnt plowing through a level willy-nilly not worrying about obstacles and shit. If thats more your bag the more recent 3D games like Unleashed or Generations is probably more yourspeed. No, the 2D Genesis Sonic games are about some speed, but platforming, Multiple paths, collecting rings to get to special stages, jumping OR ROLLING through enemies, and precision jumping. So when you people start crying because you have to stop and slow down in water sections, or have to climb staircases while some purple ooze rises on you- THIS is the essence of Sonic. And its fantastically designed platforming the way it should be.



Its going to be a little difficult for me to talk about this game without talking about some other Sonic games, but Ill see what I can do here. As Ive said multiple times in my writeups for some games, and the bit ofSonic Ive discussed so far-multiple pathing in games is my jam. It makes each time you play a pretty different experience, but each path is well-designed unlike something procedurally-generated where you may get a unique experience each time but who knows if its well-designed? The controls and feel of all Sonic games have always been top tier. Here is no exception. The game looks absolutely fantastic. The balance of blazing thru levels vs stopping to consider how to tackle an enemy or path, vs making some split-second decisions on when you get launched through the air, which way to go. For me, for every Sonic game, its a seamless experience of going through a level the way YOU want to do it. Yes, sometimes there will be obstacles. You gotta deal with them. You have to avoid the spikes, jump on the tiny moving platforms, use the flippers to launch you through the air, take a flying leap and bounce off some enemies, move tensely and quickly enough through the water to get a bubble while THAT music is playing, avoid getting crushed by pillars, or take on a robot version of yourself followed by a giant mech with no rings. Start to end, fantastic platforming.



The game does have some minor shortcomings for me that make it not quite top 10. Sorry for spoilers here for one, but it pales in comparison for me to some other Sonic games and that keeps it back a bit. You have Miles TAILS Prower, but he cant fly except for show. Youre urged to get all the Chaos Emeralds, but you come out of the checkpoints with 0 rings (hello checkpoint at the end of Mystic Cave 2 that you cant go back and get rings from and the boss is right after). The special stages themselves are kinda bullshit with CPU Tails-he will lose all your rings. And, while the music in this game is obviously great, the music DESIGN and sound mixing/design has always been a bit lacking for me. I think most of the song tracks have a bit of a tinny quality to it- like it was recorded inside a can, and the sound effects, like Sonic jumping, sound like they have had their volume artificially turned up so it kind of sounds a bit unnatural. Sky Chase is the worst level in a Sonic game. Some of the bosses kind of suck and arent fun to fight like Aquatic Ruins or Casino Nights. These are all very minor complaints that dont really hurt at all what I think of an amazing game, but like I said maybe make it stand out a bit less. In theory, this is a top 5 game for me, but I did want to pay some other games I love their proper respect so this winds up here. Anyway back to more things I love about this game.



Despite what I just said, the music is still great- Mystic Cave always spooked me in a good way (also love the death pit), Chemical Plant and the boss theme are iconic as fuck, and Oil Ocean is rad. Love hopping across the oil too and doing the slides. Air Fortress is great in general. I love Metropolis throws a random Act 3 at you (and for the record, I love how much of a troll that stage is, with the most hilariously annoying enemies in Sonic games- the mantises, crabs, and exploding starfish). Fighting Silver Sonic (NOT METAL SONIC scrubs) as Robotnik peeks in through his little window. And an actually really solid 2 player race mode, with a bit of a gambling mindset to it, with the ? item boxes that can possibly swap spots with your opponent. And of course, the introduction of the spindash, always has felt perfect.





Next Up: I wish I had never played this game, so I could play it for the first time again.

Sonic 2 stage ranks:
Metropolis > Oil Ocean > Chemical Plant > Casino Night > Wing Fortress > Mystic Cave > Aquatic Ruin > Hill Top > Emerald Hill > Death Egg > Sky Chase

Music Ranks:
Metropolis > Chemical Plant > Aquatic Ruin > Oil Ocean > Mystic Cave > Casino Night > Sky Chase > Emerald Hill > Wing Fortress > Death Egg > Hill Top

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